Grave border and protector



'(No Model.)

G. R. MEASE. GRAVE BORDER AND PROTECTOR.

No. 510,696. Patented Dec. 12, 1893.

TH! NATIONAL umawwma COMPANY? wAsu uuuuuuuu O- UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cEoReE R. ME AsE, 'oE UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO.

GRAVE BORDER AND PROTECTOR.

SPECIFICATTON forming part of Letters latent No. 510,696, dated December 12, 1893. Application filed August 18, 1893- Serial No. 483,474, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

zen of the United States, residing at Upper Sandusky, in the county of Wyandot and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grave Borders and Protectors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to an improvement in grave mound borders and protectors, and devices for receiving and seating marking or head stones for graves, and the novelty will be fully understood from the following description and claims when taken in connection withthe annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved device, illustrating the same as placed upon a grave mound. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view, with a stone arranged in position. Fig. 3, is across sectional view of the improved device removed from the grave, and Fig. 4:, is a perspective view of one set of legs or supports for the protector.

Referring by letter to said drawings:-A indicates my improved border and protector which is here shown as of a general elongated rectangular form in outline, although it is obvious that it may be of any other suitable configuration. For the sake of durability and cheapness in manufacture this border may be formed from sheet metal, and comprise a vertical, longitudinal flange a, and a transverse, vertical flange b, which may be formed entire or of separate pieces suitably fixed together. Rising from the upper. edge of these vertical portions a andb, are walls 0 and d, which are directed upwardly and inwardly oblique, as shown, to a horizontal wall e, and the edges of these walls terminate in inwardly directed flanges fileaving a central space g, for sod, flowers, or the like. This form of construction will permit of the device being placed upon a mound so as to border the same and protect it and the protectoris sustained firmly upon anchor supports B, which are designed to extend downwardly from each corner of the protector as shown. These anchor supports B, comprise legs as h, and integral cross bars in, which serve to connect the legs in pairs; and the said legs are provided at their lower ends with flat, horizontal feet 2', so as to give the same a broad and firm base, and are also provided with the flanges j, which are disposed at right angles to each other, as shown; The legs h, are furthermore provided adjacent to their upper ends with holes Z, to receive bolts or the like, through the medium of which they may be connected to the walls I); and by reason of this manner of connecting the legs and the peculiar construction of the same just described, it will be readily perceived that the said legs may be driven laterally into the solid earth at the corners of the grave before the same is filled up, after which the grave may be filled and the protector placed inposition and connected to the anchor supports as before described. With a device of this character, I am enabled to protect a grave mound ata comparatively small expense, and yet allow the main body of the mound to be exposed so that it may be sodded .or otherwise beautified. r

In some cases, where marking stones are desired, I provide a socket to receive such frame 0, composed of a vertical, marginalv flange m, and a shallow, horizontal flange n, which may be united to one of the horizontal walls e, by means of bolts 19, and nuts or other suitable fastening devices; a cross bar g, being provided to also receive and support the socket, into which a stone such as D, or the like, may be placed. 7

As the parts maybe readily disconnected and they are so constructed that they may be shipped knocked down they will occupy but little space in transportation and storage. The outer surface of the oblique walls 0, and the top walls 6, may be embellished or pro vided with urns and insignia such as of orders or churches. The anchorsupports being let into the corners of the grave, they are designed to rest upon the solid earth so that any sinking of the filled in earth, will not effeet the position of the protecting border, or stone so that the mound may always present the same general appearance.

It is obvious that instead of the head stone vided with flat horizontal feet 2', and flanges or marker, an urn might be provided or formed j, disposed at rightangles to each other so as to rest at the head of the border. to enter the solid earth at the corners of a 25 In some cases it is preferable to form the grave, and bolts for connecting the said an- 5 protector in sections, and connect them by chor supports to the border or protector, subbolts or other fastening devices, and in placstantially as specified. ing the border or protector, earth should be 2. The combination with a grave mound filled in against the flanges a and b, to about border and protector;of anchorsupports com- 0 the point indicated or half the length thereprising'legs having flat horizontal feet '5, and 10 of, so as to steady it, and prevent frost from flanges j, disposed at right angles to each other efiecting the lower edge. so as to enter the solid earth at the corners of Having described my invention, what I a grave, and cross bars connecting the said claim is legs in pairs, and a suitable means for con- 35 1. The grave mound border and protector meeting the said anchor supports to the bor- 15 comprising side and end walls, inwardly exder or protector, all substantially as and for tending horizontal walls, a cross bar q, a stone the purpose set forth. 7 socket having a vertical marginal flange and In testimony wh ereofI affix my signature in a horizontal flange, and bolts taking through presence of two witnesses.

the said horizontal flange of the socket, and GEORGE R. MEASE. 20 the horizontal wall and cross bar, in combi- \Vitnesses:

nation with the anchor supports having the O. M. LYNN,

legs connected in pairs by cross bars and pro A. READ. 

